Last updated on February 2nd, 2026
Looking for an honest Omni Rancho Las Palmas review to help plan your Palm Springs getaway?
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Endless sunshine, sparkling pools, and stunning mountain views make Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa a true California desert paradise. Add great restaurants, three distinct golf courses, and tons of kid-friendly activities, and it’s the perfect vacation destination.
We’ve been to this resort a number of times over the years, and it is always a wonderful experience. I am excited to share all the pros and cons with you in this Omni Rancho Las Palmas review to help you plan a great trip.
Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort At-A-Glance
- Splashtopia water playground
- Three pools and a lazy river
- Adults-only pool for when you need some quiet time
- Large, comfortable rooms with 42-inch plasma televisions
- Kids Club and fun activities throughout the day
- Free family movies in the evening
- Lots of dining options, including a kids buffet at the resort’s signature restaurant, bluEmber
- Super attentive service and friendly front desk staff
- Hot summer weather (this is the desert after all!)
Omni Rancho Las Palmas Review: An Oasis of Fun in the Desert
Located on 240 lush acres, the Omni Rancho Las Palmas in Palm Springs is truly an oasis in the heart of the California desert.
The highlight of the resort is Splashtopia, an extensive water playground featuring three pools (including an adults-only pool), two 100-foot water slides, a 425-foot lazy river, water-play zones, and a sandy beach.
There is also a hot tub right next to the water slides. Splashtopia is especially great for younger kids, with fountains, squirt cannons and sprinklers they can splash around in.
The Omni Rancho Las Palmas is one of the only Palm Springs family resorts with water slides and a lazy river, too! The Splashtopia pool area is what brought us to the resort for the first time when my son was younger, and that long lazy river keeps me coming back.
It really is one of the main reasons to stay at this resort.
If the sound of kids playing in the water gets to be too much (and trust me, it does get loud and crowded on how days – one of the few complaints about staying here) head of over to the adults-only Azure Pool.
The Azure Pool is located adjacent but separate from Splashtopia. It features recently updated furniture and luxurious oversized daybeds. There are plenty of lounge chairs at this pool, so it’s easy to find a place to relax.
As I mentioned, Splashtopia does tend to get busy and crowded, especially during summer weekends and spring break week. You may have difficulty finding chairs by the pool area and lazy river during these times, so plan to arrive at the pool early in the day!
You are welcome to bring your own water toys, beach balls, noodles and floats to the pool, but note the resort charges a fee to blow them up for you. So bring them pre-blown or be prepared to do it yourself!
If you buy anything at their pool store, they will blow it up for free. The shop also offers snacks, goggles, sunscreen, and other pool time sundries.
► Be sure to also check out these resorts in Palm Springs with lazy rivers.
Omni Rancho Las Palmas: The Coolest Place in the Desert
Now that we’ve talked about the pools and water features that are the resort’s main draw, let’s set the stage for the rest of the property with a little bit of history. I really do think knowing the resort’s background adds a lot to the experience of staying there!
The Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa began life in the 1950s at the Desert Air Hotel & Resort. Back then, Hollywood stars, political figures and tourists alike began frequenting the Palm Springs area. Resort guests swam in a single pool and played polo on a nearby field. In the evening, the hotel’s Compass Room restaurant and bar was the place to see and be seen.
In the late 1970s, Desert Air made way for today’s Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa. Cary Grant, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans and Bob Hope all appeared at the resort’s 1977 ground breaking. Rancho Las Palmas opened in February 1979.
But don’t think Rancho Las Palmas sports a ’70s vibe or strives to hang on to that 1950s Rat Pack era feel. This resort has been thoroughly updated and re-imagined for the 21st century. It is now completely family-friendly, starting with the rooms.
Guest Rooms at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort
An Omni Rancho Las Palmas review would not be complete without talking about the beautiful rooms!
Rancho Las Palmas features 444 guest rooms and 22 suites, all housed in Spanish-style, 2-story buildings clustered around gardens, the golf course, a lake, and the pools. All rooms feature French doors that open up to private patios and balconies.
We stayed in a Lakeview Room, with had a nice view of the water and fairways. One morning during our most recent visit, we opened the curtain to find a little family of ducks sitting on our patio, and it was adorable!
The beds in our room were very comfortable, and the bathroom was luxurious and well-appointed. All rooms are 450 square feet, which we found very spacious.
The grounds at the Omni are impeccable. It is beautifully landscaped from the flower beds on the ground to the tops of the swaying palm trees. And because the resort sprawls across such a large space, it will take a minute to get from point A to point B no matter where you go, but you’ll enjoy the journey immensely.
Amenities at Omni Rancho Las Palmas
While the pools and lazy river are the highlight of this resort and our favorite spot to relax and play, there are many more amenities at Omni Rancho Las Palmas.
The resort is home to three distinct golf courses; 27 holes of championship golf wind through palm tree-lined fairways and gently rolling terrain, surrounded by amazing views of the San Jacinto and San Bernardino mountains. Six lakes and the infamous Ted Robinson bunkers raise the stakes for amateurs and professionals alike.
Resort guests have access to golf, pickleball, and tennis at the adjacent Rancho Las Palmas Country Club. The Club features putting greens, a Pro Shop, snack bar, and 25 tennis courts, including eight lit for night play. Although we are not exactly what you’d call pros, my son and I had a lot of fun practicing our tennis game.
Rancho Las Palmas Country Club can be reached on foot from the hotel, but the valet will shuttle you over in golf carts – which is really helpful on hot days! We did this on our second morning there and it was super convenient. Plus, what kid doesn’t like buzzing around in a golf cart?
The resort also offers full concierge service, meeting space, fitness center, game room, several retail shops and the beautiful Spa Las Palmas.
They also offer bike rentals to explore the resort and surrounding neighborhood. The current cost to rent bikes at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort is $15 per hour. You can pick up your bikes near the main pool.
Other activities are just a short drive away, including downtown Palm Springs, the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, Joshua Tree National Park, and the Palm Springs Aerial Tram, along with many other cool family-friendly desert adventures.
Dining Options
Whether you are looking for fine dining or a quick bite, Rancho Las Palmas has a couple of options.
The resort’s signature dining spot, bluEmber Restaurant, has a sophisticated atmosphere yet still manages to remain kid-friendly. In fact, at dinner time they boast a fairly expansive buffet just for kids that make those pricier adult meals easier to enjoy.
The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and offers lovely outdoor seating as well. This is an especially fine option on evenings when live music is being performed in the adjacent courtyard. Outdoor seating has fire pits and beautiful views of the grounds and mountains, so I recommend this if the weather is right.
During the day, enjoy a burger, salad or other tasty lunch from Splash Grill while you are enjoying the pool. As part of Splashtopia, you won’t have to leave to enjoy a quick meal. Servers will deliver food and drinks directly to your lounge chair so you don’t even have to don your flip flops to have a good meal!
Conchilla Valley Pool Bar and Grill is the Omni’s newest dining venue. Located by the pool, this casual spot offers sweeping views of mountains and palm trees along with California-coastal cuisine and cocktails.
Palms Café is a quick bite spot right in the Plaza. Great for your morning coffee fix or for grabbing a quick sandwich to go. This casual café in the central courtyard plaza features salads, sandwiches, brick-oven pizzas and frozen treats.
Golfers can enjoy lunch at Between the 9s at the Club. Enjoy your meal inside or on the outdoor patio surrounded by sweeping mountain and golf course views. They are also open for Sunday morning breakfast.
Finally, for the grown-ups, R Bar serves up great burgers and munchies along with craft-style beers and cocktails during the evening hours.
Final Thoughts: Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort
With its prime desert location, amazing amenities, variety of dining options, and huge, comfortable rooms, the Omni Palm Springs is an ideal escape for families. There are many awesome resorts in the area, but it is this hotel’s pool area – with a lazy river AND water slides AND water play area AND separate adult pool – that really sets it apart.
If you are visiting when the weather is hot, come early to make sure you find a chair and bring lots of sunscreen. That is the one thing I must really emphasize because it does get very crowded.
Reservations & Contact Information
- 41000 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage
- (760) 568-2727
► Check Rates & Availability for the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa
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